New data from DrugRisk.com shows that women choosing the Bayer birth control products Yaz® and Yasmin® may be increasing. This increase comes about despite current lawsuits alleging that the drugs can cause life-threatening complications for users.

The data shows that Bayer, Germany’s largest drugmaker, sold $275 million worth of Yaz® and Yasmin® in the third quarter of 2011, but improved sales to $277 million in the third quarter of 2012. These numbers mean that more women are being prescribed and purchasing Yaz® and Yasmin®, despite the fact that Bayer has already agreed to an initial $110 million settlement for victims of the drugs’ side effects.

The History of the Yaz® and Yasmin® Lawsuits

Bayer released Yaz® and Yasmin® as combined oral contraceptives, drugs that use both estrogen and progestogen to prevent ovulation in women. Bayer marketed Yaz® and Yasmin® as formulations that may also treat the symptoms of Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD. Yaz® and Yasmin® use a high dose of estrogen and a low dose of progestogen to prevent ovulation and prevent pregnancy.
Yaz® and Yasmin® use a particular type of hormone known as drospirenone. Drospirenone is a synthetic hormone that has been linked by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, as well as other experts, to higher risks of blood clots.

Because Bayer did not warn users of the potential side effects of Yaz® and Yasmin®, the company now faces liability for the injuries sustained by the women who used these products and suffered health issues.

What Is Happening in the Yaz® and Yasmin® Lawsuits?

The formal case against Bayer has been consolidated into a single class-action lawsuit being administered through a federal court in Illinois. Bayer claims to have already settled about 3,500 lawsuits involving Yaz® and Yasmin® victims for $750 million. This averages to about $214,000 per case, although each victim’s case is individually evaluated to determine the correct settlement amount. At this point, Bayer is only settling cases involve deep-vein thromboses or blood clots that cause serious health impacts, such as pulmonary embolisms.
Will Bayer Settle Other Yaz® and Yasmin® Lawsuits?

The initial settlement efforts by Bayer include only a specific group of victims, and all of those victims may not have come forward at this point. For victims who have suffered injuries from Yaz® and Yasmin® use such as strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, or other blood clot issues, it is crucial that they talk to an attorney immediately.

A class action is a lawsuit that encompasses all plaintiffs that belong to a certain class. If a potential plaintiff does not join the class or opt out of the settlement negotiations, that person could lose her right to recover damages. Therefore, Bayer is required to notify all potential plaintiffs of the progress of the case and give these plaintiffs an option of joining the class.
Unfortunately, the high number of Yaz® and Yasmin® sales indicate that either many women are not hearing about the current litigation or they do not believe these problems can affect them. If you are using oral contraceptives, talk to your doctor immediately about the possible dangers associated with the use of these drugs.

If you are seeking a product liability attorney, please contact Bisnar|Chase for a Free Case Consultation regarding your Yasmin use to find out what compensation you may be entitled to. Call us at 1-800-561-4877.

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